Mike Peters: It’s time to remember our heroes

Time to donate to Wreaths Across America so those wreaths can be placed on veterans' graves next month. We've been honoring veterans here for the past five years and Dec. 15, we'll do it again.

And this year at Linn Grove Cemetery, they're not only honoring the veterans, but they’re also including first-responders in the wreath placements.

"We believe it's time to honor those men and women who respond first to our emergencies," said Chris Ruth, local coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Linn Grove. "That includes police, firefighters, sheriff's deputies, paramedics and all of those heroes."

And there are stories out there about all of the men and women who will be honored with wreath placements on Dec. 15.

Ralph Foster was a resident of Nunn and was killed in action in World War II. He was a member of the Army Tank Corps. He graduated from College High (now University High School) in Greeley, was president of the senior class and an outstanding member of the football team. He attended Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado) for two years, then worked in Cheyenne for United Air Lines before going into the army. He wrote his last letter to his parents on the day he was killed.

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Lee Whitman was a Greeley police officer who was killed in the Greeley police station in 1935. The killer had been left at the station without being searched, and Whitman had his back to him, working the desk. The suspect pulled his gun and shot Whitman in the back. After shooting Whitman, the killer fled on foot into the "outskirts" of Greeley, now 35th Avenue, where he committed suicide.

Antonio Mendoza was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and graduated from high school in Germany. Antonio was career Army and served as a drill instructor in the infantry. He retired in 1989. When he died, donations in his name went to help build the Weld County Veterans Memorial Wall at 35th Avenue and 16thStreet, where there was a Veterans' Day Service on Saturday morning.

These will be just a few of the honorees at the cemetery. The group heading the Linn Grove placements is selling the wreaths for $15 each.

Chris Ruth explains how the local group is different: "All donations to WAA at Linn Grove go to purchasing wreaths. There are fundraising groups in Colorado and across the country (that) profit from the donations, keeping $5 from each $15 donation. But we felt it is extremely important that all of the $15 donation go toward honoring our vets and first-responders."

That means every $15 donation pays for one-and-a-half wreaths. Donations can be dropped off at Offen Ace Hardware, 1722 9th St., or mailed to Wreaths Across America, P.O. Box 336172, Greeley, CO, 80633. The deadline for donations is Nov. 26.

Other local cemeteries participating in Wreaths Across America are Evans, Sunset Memorial Gardens and Eaton.

Ruth also wanted to remind everyone that on Dec. 15, likely more than 4,000 wreaths will be placed at those participating cemeteries, and volunteers are needed. There is no need to sign up to volunteer. Just be at the cemetery by 10 a.m.

— Mike Peters, a former Tribune reporter, is a volunteer with Wreaths Across America at Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley.